Music

Get your daily dose of truth to power: download Drezus’ “The Sequel”.

Following the release of his acclaimed album Indian Summer last year, Plains Cree hip-hop artist Drezus has been dropping singles on SoundCloud that provide deeper context on the album’s inspiration.

Recently, he posted “The Sequel”, a heartfelt and personal account of his parents’ experiences with residential schools—and his own attempts to reckon with the intergenerational legacy of colonialism. Drezus explains:

I decided to put this up for download after I reunited with my Dad recently and we spoke about his experiences with Residential School. His parents were forced to go as well, creating problems for all generations ahead, including mine. I didn’t know my Dad growing up but recently made peace with the man and felt this tells an important story of just one of many families affected by the system.

The Rezofficial alumnus uses his time on the mic wisely, not just to account for the loss of his father’s presence, but to call out the collective confusion of “the new world order” and call on his people “to take back all that we own”.

Impassioned and honest, without being corny, “The Sequel” reminds us that we’re all still trying to recuperate, and that “instead of killing our own / we should focus on our fam and protecting our home”.